also... these pics make the car look more gray, like a cyber gray metallic. The pics of cars that ive seen that are carbon flash metallic are faaar more black. Its more of just a metallic black isnt it?

ok, a little research found that the 3.0L LF1 in the cts had the same "integrated exhaust manifold". I looked up pics and found this:

Its very interesting looking. Im not sure how they would get something like that to flow like a traditional exhaust manifold or header. It does look compact though, and as jason said, it looks like you could bolt a turbo right on the motor! Its an interesting idea, but it means no headers for the v6 cars anymore

Maybe, maybe not. If I'm understanding correctly (that the head and the manifold are a single casting), it almost certainly makes a reverse-mounted shorty manifold impossible, not to mention any sort of mid-length or long-tube header, and porting the exhaust side of the heads will be quite difficult. The only way to do those things would be to remove each head, cut off the manifolds, machine the resulting port surfaces smooth, and drill/tap holes for header bolts. That's a much more involved process than what someone would have to do to swap headers on the current model. Then again, I don't even know if anyone is making aftermarket headers for the 3.6L.

EDIT: Now that I've posted and the page has reloaded, there are a bunch more posts with a bunch more info. Having seen the picture of what the head+manifold looks like, I'm now skeptical that the process I described above is even feasible. Might be, hard to tell. And it also makes Jason right -- space permitting, you could bolt a turbo right to that. That makes me think further, though -- why haven't people bolted little turbos up to each individual exhaust port before?

It's a very interesting change. I'm curious to learn more about why they're doing it. I can only think of negative implications from a modification standpoint, but it's probably cheaper to build -- fewer bolts, fewer gaskets, fewer assembly steps, fewer parts. It might also be a significant contributor to the 20-pound weight savings in the engine.

Maybe, maybe not. If I'm understanding correctly (that the head and the manifold are a single casting), it almost certainly makes a reverse-mounted shorty manifold impossible, not to mention any sort of mid-length or long-tube header, and porting the exhaust side of the heads will be quite difficult. The only way to do those things would be to remove each head, cut off the manifolds, machine the resulting port surfaces smooth, and drill/tap holes for header bolts. That's a much more involved process than what someone would have to do to swap headers on the current model. Then again, I don't even know if anyone is making aftermarket headers for the 3.6L.

EDIT: Now that I've posted and the page has reloaded, there are a bunch more posts with a bunch more info. Having seen the picture of what the head+manifold looks like, I'm now skeptical that the process I described above is even feasible. Might be, hard to tell. And it also makes Jason right -- space permitting, you could bolt a turbo right to that. That makes me think further, though -- why haven't people bolted little turbos up to each individual exhaust port before?

It's a very interesting change. I'm curious to learn more about why they're doing it. I can only think of negative implications from a modification standpoint, but it's probably cheaper to build -- fewer bolts, fewer gaskets, fewer assembly steps, fewer parts. It might also be a significant contributor to the 20-pound weight savings in the engine.

Emissions may be a factor. That design could let them get the catalytic converter RIGHT next to the engine. Faster light off = lower emissions on the test cycle.